Articles | Volume 21, issue 19
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4251-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-21-4251-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
How is particulate organic carbon transported through the river-fed submarine Congo Canyon to the deep sea?
Sophie Hage
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Geo-Ocean, UMR6538, Univ Brest, Ifremer, CNRS, Plouzané, France
Megan L. Baker
Departments of Geography and Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
Nathalie Babonneau
Geo-Ocean, UMR6538, Univ Brest, Ifremer, CNRS, Plouzané, France
Guillaume Soulet
Geo-Ocean, UMR6538, Univ Brest, Ifremer, CNRS, Plouzané, France
Bernard Dennielou
Geo-Ocean, UMR6538, Univ Brest, Ifremer, CNRS, Plouzané, France
Ricardo Silva Jacinto
Geo-Ocean, UMR6538, Univ Brest, Ifremer, CNRS, Plouzané, France
Robert G. Hilton
Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Valier Galy
Department of Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
François Baudin
ISTeP, UMR 7193, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Paris, France
Christophe Rabouille
LSCE, UMR 8212, CEA-CNRS-UVSQ, IPSL and Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Clément Vic
Univ Brest, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Laboratoire d'Oceìanographie Physique et Spatiale (LOPS), IUEM, Plouzané, France
Sefa Sahin
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
Sanem Açikalin
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
Peter J. Talling
Departments of Geography and Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham, UK
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Cited
7 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Variations in lignin content deposited in the Congo fan and its potential for oxidative degradation L. Bondurant et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2025.104569
- Time-lapse surveys reveal patterns and processes of erosion by exceptionally powerful turbidity currents that flush submarine canyons: A case study of the Congo Canyon S. Ruffell et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109350
- The combined role of near-bed currents and sub-seafloor processes in the transport and pervasive burial of microplastics in submarine canyons E. Keavney et al. https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2024-228
- Organic carbon transport in river-disconnected submarine canyon-channel systems using multi-geochemical tracers S. Otsuka et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2026.105465
- Carbonate Turbidity Currents Play an Underappreciated Role in the Global Carbon Cycle C. Nworie et al. https://doi.org/10.2110/001c.159298
- Seasonal diversity & behaviour of internal tidal bores revealed by year-long direct monitoring within a submarine canyon: Implications for particulate transport M. Wolfe et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2026.119835
- Geochemical behavior of rare earth elements in pore fluids of turbidite sediments from South Taiwan Y. Huang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2026.123355
7 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Variations in lignin content deposited in the Congo fan and its potential for oxidative degradation L. Bondurant et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marchem.2025.104569
- Time-lapse surveys reveal patterns and processes of erosion by exceptionally powerful turbidity currents that flush submarine canyons: A case study of the Congo Canyon S. Ruffell et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109350
- The combined role of near-bed currents and sub-seafloor processes in the transport and pervasive burial of microplastics in submarine canyons E. Keavney et al. https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2024-228
- Organic carbon transport in river-disconnected submarine canyon-channel systems using multi-geochemical tracers S. Otsuka et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2026.105465
- Carbonate Turbidity Currents Play an Underappreciated Role in the Global Carbon Cycle C. Nworie et al. https://doi.org/10.2110/001c.159298
- Seasonal diversity & behaviour of internal tidal bores revealed by year-long direct monitoring within a submarine canyon: Implications for particulate transport M. Wolfe et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2026.119835
- Geochemical behavior of rare earth elements in pore fluids of turbidite sediments from South Taiwan Y. Huang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2026.123355
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 07 Jun 2026
Editorial statement
This study documents a unique and highly efficient process of particulate organic carbon (POC) transfer from a major river estuary to the deep ocean. By providing the first direct observations of Congo River-derived POC at significant depths, the study reveals how both turbidity currents and tidal forces facilitate the movement of large carbon quantities to the Congo deep-sea fan, 1,200 km from the river mouth. Given that the Congo River contributes about 7% of the total organic carbon from the world's rivers, the findings highlight a potentially underestimated component of the global carbon cycle, making this research crucial for refining carbon cycle models and understanding carbon dynamics along the land-ocean continuum.
This study documents a unique and highly efficient process of particulate organic carbon (POC)...
Short summary
The land-to-ocean flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) is difficult to measure, inhibiting accurate modeling of the global carbon cycle. Here, we quantify the POC flux between one of the largest rivers on Earth (Congo) and the ocean. POC in the form of vegetation and soil is transported by episodic submarine avalanches in a 1000 km long canyon at up to 5 km water depth. The POC flux induced by avalanches is at least 3 times greater than that induced by the background flow related to tides.
The land-to-ocean flux of particulate organic carbon (POC) is difficult to measure, inhibiting...
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